Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-04-02
The ECONOMITE Es.
A Romance Concerning the Leader
or These Queer PeOple-The
society said To- be
Worth $1,000

600.
A Pittsburgh correspondent.o he
Cincinnati EaFltiycr writes: A re-
markable romance concerning old Js-
cob Henrici, the leader of the Econ
Omites, a celebrated COmmunistlc soci-
ETY. near here, has heen unearthed by
the writer. 1t is a love story which
has lasted life time and will end only
in the death of the two characters in
volved. The heorine is an old lady.
the granddaughter of Rapp. the foHn-
der Of this singular community Of Ger
mans, which can not be paralleled in
his or anv other country.
Strangers who walked through the
grass-grown str"-'s of Economy this
morning were, Tor the time being, trans
planted to 4 typical German village.
Quaint old people. quaint old houses
and costumes excited their continual
eur ositv which Was increased when
.hev entered the ones orv brick church.
where few Of the twenty aged and
feeble survivors Of Rupp's eight hun
lred emigrants, with many of the
three hundred OF the kitchen maids.
and farm-hands. who are not amenable
10 the sOcietys strange laws. were
gathered for divine worship. Across
The center of the church extends
4 narrow aisle. with platform
IT each end. one being occupied bv two
organs. at which old Mr. Heinrich and
Miss Rapp sat playing. On both 8 des
Of the aisle h-bacSed benches exten.
ded to the rear. The men sat on one
side, and the women on the other. fac
ing each other. 1t was singular
gathering. reminding one of American
colonial days. Miss Rapp wore a cos
tune which was startl ng for her age.
1t consisted Of purple gown, blue
neckerchief. with red. blue. and green
border, and maZarine-biue silk-quilt-
ed Normandy bonnet. When the sing
ing of the opening hymn, accompanied
by the orgau-playing of our aged hero
and heroine, who have sacrificed love
and devotion to the cruel community
law of celibacy. had been concluded.
Mr.. Henrici walked across the aisle To
the opposite platform and began the
sermon of the morning. He sat on his
chair during its ent re delivery.
Miss Rapp is about 7S wears of age.
When Young she was lovely girl, reiin-
ed. highly educated. and possessed Of con-
siderable musical talent. She and Ja-
cob Henrici fell desperately in love
With each other. but of course could
not marry. They have for many years
lived in the same house-he in one
wing with several old male members of
,he society, while Miss Rapp. with her
women. reside in another wing. As
they sat side by side in church this
morning. the synpathet chords Of the
few persons present converSant with
this secret romance were awakened,
and there was feeling of sadness as
the rel gious services were participated
in by the aged lovers in the quainiest
vet simplest and sincerest manner pos
sible. Another love romance. involv-
ing leading member of the commuui-
ty. is still more interesting. and it re-
suited in the temporary insanity of the
old man. Twenty years ago he was
sent on a mission to the oil regions,
where, forgetting his vows. he became
infatuated with a charming girl In
some way this terrible news reached
EconOmr, and Mr.. Henrici immed ate
" started for the country. Arriving
in the town he was Mortified 10 find h s
associate ont carriage-riding with his
charmer. Henriri was espied about the
same instant, and the lOvesick Econo-
mite Immediately deserted his lady
friend. and leaping from the carr age
escaped to the woods. A search Was
made which lasted three davs. and,
there being no trace of the m ssing man,
Henrici returned to Economy. The
wanderer finally came home. but he
was on the verge of lunacy. He was
confined in Dlxmont and shortly re-
/ covered. He IS still living, one of the
most honOred members of the commu-
/ nifty, and has, no doubt forgot the es-
! capade of twenty years ago.
/ DIR. Fite, no longer \ member, sue
ceeded his father rs the village physi.
/ cian. He had never studied med cine.
! but had read carefully the ponderous
l rec pe-bOoks. treatises on herbs. etc..
| inherited from his father. Finally Mr..
Henrici took him to a neighboring
phvs clan that he might become more
proficient. The physician was absent.
and Young Fite became so engrossed III
/ the charms of the NJ. DIS wife. who re-
ceived them. that Mr.. Henrici became
, alarmed, and the object of the visit was
/ 1t once abandoned. T te was escorted
home again. Shortly after the llage
/ WIS Wis ted by an endemic. during
which a German girl. who volunteered
IS nurse. and young Fite became EN-
amored of each other. and planned 10
get married. A clergyman from 8
neighbOr ng town was secured, and
/ meeting the couple at the railway station
! ,hey were married.
Fite was given $1,000 and expelled
from the soc etv, and with his bride he
removed to Allegheny City. where hi
practiced for several years. He Wa:
lfterward taken back on salary. but
soon took TO opium-eat .ng. and driftec
away never TO return.
! 4 tragic incident occurred recently
John Woifhanger, the society's store
keeper. at the invitation OF country
ooys twice attended festive gatherings
Both times he was detected by Mr.
Henrici. and punished in an unknown
out it is sald. severe manner. Th'
second time Wolthanger, WHO wa
stricken with remorse, took q dose o
morphine and d.ed-
4 strange story in relation to IN,
n. i